“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.”
Robert A. Heinlein
I have no children of my own.
For a long time I felt sad about that, grieved it, even though I knew it was also a blessing to not have them. I live with chronic illness, and I am certain I would have gifted any children poor health too. And how could I have cared well for a child when for so many years I have struggled to have enough energy for basic daily living?
As I have grown older I have come to realise that I can still mother. I mother my spiritual community and my students. I mother the environment. I mother my ideas and projects.
I wake up knowing someone in my community needs help and I include them in my meditations. I send messages of comfort, support and encouragement. Sometimes I do tough love.
I answer their messages, I check in on them when they are doing it tough.
Many of these people I mother are mothers themselves, busy caring for others, with never enough time for their own wellbeing, and, far too often, no-one in their corner to back them up.
We all need mothering now and again. A soft pair of arms, a comforting hug, soothing words, or sage advice. Someone to encourage us and remind us that we CAN do the thing or survive the thing.
Right now, more than ever, we need more mothers and wise ones. So, I’m asking you. If you’ve got enough energy in your tank and a little to spare, who can you check in on, encourage, witness?
Sometimes all we ever need is the knowledge that someone cares for us and believes in us.
I’m here for you.
All my love, Nicole xx
